1950s

KOREAN WAR: Support South Korea to help stop the spread of communism USSR supported North Korea War that ended up with very little change from

when it started Many people killed, many thought it wasn’t worth

it!

McCarthyism: Sen. McCarthy accused others of being Communist within the US but never showed any evidence at all. Many people lost jobs, friends, etc.

because of accusations.Red Scare: United States scared to death

that communism will spread here.

Living History: The 1950s Part 1 23 min.

1.Why would the govt try to sell the Korean War as only a “conflict?”

2.What are your thoughts on the fact that the govt tried to sell the Korean War as a conflict?

3.In your own words, what is the “American Dream?”

1953: Color television started

Living History: The 1950s 14 min.

1.Why do you think the local TV station failed? List 3 potential reasons.

2.How do you think the 1950s affected your life today?

Elvis Presley emerged as one of the most popular singers of the 1950s. He served in the military as well. His sound

was known as rock & roll….or known as rockabilly.

Entertainment: American Bandstand became the top musical performance show

that was on television.

Jonas Salk: Medical researcher that developed

a vaccine for Polio.

Ted Williams: professional baseball player with the

Boston Red Sox, served as a pilot in both WWII & Korea

Jim Brown was one of footballs best running

backs. Standing 6'2" and 230 pounds he was an

imposing figure. While he played he earned the

rushing title every year except one and never

missed a game.

The 1st franchised McDonalds was built in Des Plaines,

Illinois in 1954.

1953: The 1st Corvette was produced entirely by hand, and was limited to 300 at first. The cost was $3498 for the base price, but options for a heater

or radio were available .

Oct. 1950 brought the first Peanuts comic strip

by Charles Schulz….which did not

include Snoopy!

Hula hoops emerged in the 1950s, although some sort of hoops had been used for many years before. It got its name from soldiers that

saw the dance of the people of the Hawaiian

islands.

The Cat in the Hat was written by Dr. Seuss in 1954.

Living History: The 1950s(21 min)

1.Would you have dropped the bomb? Why or why not?

2. What kind of impact do you think that Hess’s Department Store had on society & the economy? Would you characterize it as good or bad?

*Baby Boom: Many kids were born in the 1950s, as soldiers came home from WWII. Many families put off

having kids during that time period until they had become more stable financially.

*Cars & roads improved to greatly help transportation.

*People were starting to become more free & open with their sexuality, not as conservative as in previous

years.

*Family activities increased: drive in movies, amusement parks, etc.

*Race & class issues were everywhere, teenage rebellions increased

*Gender issues were fairly strict—men worked, women at home with the kids/taking care of house, etc.